UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

One of many Bible articles on the “Wielding the Sword of the Spirit” web site at http://www.matthewmcgee.org)
Home Page * Copyright Policy * Feedback
The Basics of Understanding the Bible

Matthew McGee
In order to understand the Bible, one must study dispensationally, that is, rightly divide the scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). But what does it mean to study dispensationally or to rightly divide? On the most basic level: It is reading a Bible passage and asking, “Am I in the group of people being spoken to here?” That is, “Is this passage speaking to Christians?” Most commonly, we are taught that the entire Bible is written to us. But that is not entirely correct. The whole Bible is written for us, for our learning, but not all of it is addressed to us.

For example: When God gave the law to the people of Israel through Moses in about 1500…